Thill-coupling



(No Model.) J. H. Pooml THILLUUUPLNG. l No. 277,416. Patented Ma'yB, 1883.

i i N. PETERS FbaIo-Lkmriphlr. Wamgwn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

JAMES n. FOOTE, OF OINOINNATI, OHIO.

TH lLL-COU PLING.

SPECIIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,416, dated May 8, 1883,

Application filed November 27, 1882. (No model.)

' due to wear can be taken up from time to time as may be necessary, and rattling be thereby prevented.

To this end my invention consists inthe employment of a partially-expansible bolttormed in two parts by longitudinal division, with serrated or otherwiseV inclined adjacent surfaces normally registering with and fitting against each other, so as to constitute exterior'ly a cylindrical bolt, but expansible by withdrawing one portion of the bolt upon the other or others longitudinally.

I have shown a preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a front view of an ordinary thill-coupling, showing the jaws in axial section, the bolt in position, but with the thill-iron removed. Fig. 2 is a' sidev view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a side view of the bolt removed and with its parts a little separated. Fig. et is an end view ot the same.

Referring to the drawings in aid of the description, in which the parts aredesignatedby letters of reference,A designates the ordinary buggy-clip thill-coupling, a a', the jaws between which the thill-iron is inserted, and B the pivotal bolt embraced by the thill-iron.

The principle of my invention consists in dividing the bolt B longitudinally into two parts and forming the adjacent surfacesintoinclined planes with relation to each other, so that upon drawing one of the parts into which the boltis divided longitudinally upon the other or 0thers the bolt is enlarged radially. Itis obvious that the adjacent surfaces may be formed in a variety of ways, either asasinglecontinuous incline or a number of them. In practice I nd it desirable to divide the surfaces into three or more inclines each, and as a matter of convenience and economy in construction the surfaces may be simply serrated, as shown in Figs. l and 3, in which the bolt is shown dvided into the parts b b', constructed in detail as follows: The principal portiony b of the bolt Bis divided for only a portion ofitslength, as shown, and is otherwise cylindrical and screwthreaded at one end. The smaller portion, b', is fitted to that first described, and at its end is formed a head, b2. The two portions placed together form a cylindrical bolt, tittingsnugly the perforations through the jaws aa, and projecting slightly at bot-h ends beyond the jaws. The head b2 thus rests against the outside ot vthe jaw on one side, and prevents the movement of the portion b inward, while the threaded end of the part b projects through the opposite jaw and receives aunt, which, in turning,

acts against the outside of thev jaw and with.

draws the part b independently in its direction. This independent movement of onepart ot the bolt upon the other, as will be obvious,causes them to spread apart and occupy more space radially in a plane, perpendicular to their general plane of division, which is the object sought to be attained, and as the part la projects through one of the jaws a and partly through the other, part of the expansion ocventing any rotation ot' the bolt, und consequently preventing any wear at those points. 1t will also be obvious that the action of the nut against the outside of one of the jaws and the resistance of the head b2 against the ou't side of the opposite jaw, both actingtoward the common center,tend to compress the jawsl together and take up any lost motion or' the thill-iron sidewise. A shallow depression in the jaw, in which the head i12-tits when in position, maybe provided as a means of' preventing rotation of theboltindependentlyof its eX- pansion.

My invention may be applied to many other situations than thill-couplings, and indeed in any mechanism requiring' an expansible pivot.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a, thill'coupling, a cylindrical pivotbolt formed by longitudinal division into two 5 partshavingcorrespondingly-inclinedadjacent surfaces, one of such parts provided with an end stop and the other with a screw-nut, by which one part may be moved longitudinally -upon Jthe other in the coupling-jaws, and the ro bolt be thereby radially enlarged, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the jaws aa andthe chill-iron of a. shaft-fastening, the bolt B, composed of members b b', constructed as described, and :t fastening-nut, arranged and operating as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. H. FOUTE.

Witnesses L. M. HosEA,

lHAs. LEIMANY. 

